Who wrote the poem The Tyger?

Study for the Life in the United Kingdom Test. Prepare with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each offering hints and explanations. Get ready for your exam!

The Tyger was written by William Blake, an English poet and artist from the Romantic era who published it in Songs of Experience in 1794. Blake uses a powerful, questioning voice to probe the mystery of who forged the Tyger and why, posing the famous line “Did he who made the Lamb make thee?” This contrast between the fierce Tyger and the gentle Lamb highlights Blake’s exploration of creation, innocence versus experience, and the complexity of the maker behind both beauty and danger. The poem’s vivid imagery, incantatory rhythm, and thematic depth are signature of Blake’s work, and it sits within his paired contrast of Songs of Innocence and Songs of Experience. The other writers listed are known for different works: Wordsworth is famed for nature-focused verse, Shakespeare for plays and sonnets, and William Wallace is a historical figure rather than a poet associated with this poem.